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Patrick Chitumba Victoria Falls Reporter
PLAYERS in the tourism industry in the resort town of Victoria Falls have welcomed the extension of a rebate on capital goods. The extension was announced in the 2014 National Budget in December last year and was put in effect from January 1 this year for a period of 12 months. It was initially introduced in 2009 to support the expansion and modernisation of hotels and restaurants but expired in August last year after the country co-hosted the successful United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly with Zambia.
Ross Kennedy, chief executive at Africa Albida Tourism said: “The extension of the tourism rebate regulation applies to the importation of capital goods for tourism projects and is a significant incentive for those involved in tourism to take the opportunity to upgrade and refurbish their products, properties and associated projects.”
Clement Mukwasi of Shearwater Adventures commended the government for the positive move he said was going to assist the sector recapitalise in the wake of anticipated upsurge in arrivals.
“We are coming from an eventful, business filled festive season where for example over 17,000 local, regional and international tourists paid their way into the rainforest.
“That alone indicates that the country’s tourism sector is coming out of the woods and therefore the need for further recapitalisation,” he said.
Other operators said the initiative by government was going to encourage expansion in tourism.
Some said there was need for government to address administrative delays as the rebate was taking a long time to be approved because the forms were required to be approved by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, Zimbabwe Council for Tourism and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
Online Reporter